FOR the glorious Victory that it hath pleaſed God to give unto our Armie under the command of that Heroick Generall, Sir Thomas Fairfax, deſerves to be taken notice of in in an extraordinarie manner: For as wee ought to conſider of it as a gracious returne of our Prayers and Faſtings, ſo are we hereby deeply obliged to bleſſe God for it, by giving him the honour in the humble acknowledgement of our thankfulneſſe, unto him that is the giver of all Victories, which that we may the better do it, will not bee amiſſe to take notice how the Enemy had plotted to deſtroy us.
When Leiceſter was taken (which before is ſaid not to be very ſtrong) the Enemy were ſo in love with the ſcituation, that they caſt with themſelves how they ſhall gain time to refortifie it, as they had to win it. Vpon which Haſtings Viſcount Loughborough (alias Robcarrier) is made the Governour thereof; who preſently falles to re-edifie the VValles, eſpecially a place called the New work Yet leſt Coll. Cromwell, which they heard grew numerous, with other of our forces, ſhould fall upon them before all things were ſetled in a defenſive way (though part of His Majeſties powers faced Derby, and pretended more, and ſo to go forward) they diverted their courſe; and as if they intended to draw a Line from Newark to Oxford (and ſtop our Commerce with divers Counties) they return into Northamptonſhire, ſteal thirty thouſand Sheep, and eight thouſand Head of other Cattle, which they carried into Oxford.
In their countercourſe they leave none of the fatteſt ſoyles, for they come by Walcot Langhton, Harborough, Rugby, and ſo diſpierſing themſelves in Northamptonſhire, take up their Head quarters at Deintrey in the Road to Coventrey, many skirmiſhes have been betwixt Northampton forces and Partees of the Kings, and priſoners taken on both ſides: Here they ſpoil and deſtroy both Corn and Hay, ſaying, they will make our Gariſon ſeek further off for their proviſion; and boaſt how many fat Cattle they have made ſtop of for comming to London.
Preſently upon this, the Kings Forces did face Northhampton, but at their drawing away, a partee of our Horſe followed them, vvho met vvith another of the Enemies, charged them, ſlew ſome, and took tvventy Horſe and divers priſoners, vvhich they brought to Northampton, not receiving any loſſe at all on our ſide.
At this time, Sir Thomas Fairfax was at Stoney-Stratford, in the County of Buckingham, and ſent a Partee under the command of Collonel Butler to Toſsiter, and within a day or two removed his head quarters thither, and ſo got in part, betvvixt the Kings Army and Oxford, and began to gain upon the King•quarters, the Enemy ſtill pretending that they vvould give Battle, and to that purpoſe made a flouriſh (as heretofore they uſed to do) on Thurſday night and Friday morning, ſending avvay before their carriages tovvards Leiceſter.
Nobe Sir Thomas finding that the Enemy made no haſte to ſight, ſuſpected that they were ſtealing away, and having his whole Army in a readineſſe, and a great part drawn into a Body, ſent out divers Scouts, and at length intelligence was brought, that they were drawn away, and were marching again towards Leiceſter, having gotten much ground before our Army.
Vpon this, Sir Thomas forthvvith perſued them, and by a hard march forced them to fight; As you may ſee by this enſuing Letter.
He Kings Armie endeavouring to get away again towards
Leiceſter, we marched very hard after them, and this Morning the Enemy perceiving that we were not farte from their Rear, and finding we purſued with ſuch ſpeed, that if they made any ſtay (as needs they muſt, to refreſh their men and Horſe) we ſhould be ready to fall on their quarters before they came to Leiceſter, about nine of the clock in the morning we found them in Battalia, within four or five miles of Harborough ▪ betweene Naesby and Clipſton, upon which we drew up our Forces neere Naesby Warren, and planted our Ordnance, and when our army came to view the enemy, they gave a great ſhout; and about ten of the clock the Ordnance on both ſides began to play, and our armie being divided into ſeverall Brigades, divers partees were drawne out; and after the Scouts had skirmiſhed a while, whole partees became engaged, the Oidnance ſtill playing, and the ſucceſſe doubfull; but between elaven and twelve of the clock, (Lieutenant Generall Crrmwell being joyned with us) Sir Thomas Fairfax commanded the right Wing, and Lieutenant Generall Cromwell thé léft, who charged the enemie through and through, routed the Horſe, killed and took a great number of them, and being gallantly ſeconded by our Foot, at length we beat the enemie from ſome of their Ordnance, tooke moſt of their Carriages, and put them them to flight.
The fight was extream hot for the ſpace of halfe an houre or more, and wee tooke many Colours of Horſe and Foot, among which the Kings Standard is ſuppoſed to bee one, it having the portracture of a Lion with a golden Crowne.
We have alſo taken ſome hundreds of Officers priſoners, amongſt which are many perſons of qualiaie, beſides a great number of common Souldiers, with Horſe and ſtore of armes and baggage, the particulars as yet I cannot relate, neither have I had time to view the Corps that are ſlaine upon the place, but the generall rvmor is two thouſand killed and taken,. But let this ſuffice out friends, that it hath pleaſed God to give us a glorious victory. We hear ſome of the Kings Forees are taken towards Litchfield, but it is though to the greateſt part of thoſe that are left, are flying towards Newark, whither its ſaid the King himſelfe is going. Lieutenant Generall Cromwell with a gallant partee of Horſe, is in the purſuit; and ſome of our Scouts have juſt now brought intelligence that Prince Rupert is taken.
Since the writing of this letter, it is reported, that Major Generall Skippon hath received ſome hurt, but it is hoped he will ſoon recover. Our Generall was in ſome danger, hazarding his own perſon, but bleſſed be God came off well.
IT is deſired, that all Miniſters in London, the Liberties, and within the Lines of Communication, do this Sabbath day, bleſſe God that hath been pleaſed to heare our Prayers, in the behalf of our Army, and hath given the Parliament a Glorious Victorie; killed many, taken many priſoners, the Standard, with the Ramping Lyon in gold, with the Crown upon it taken, and Collonel Cromwel perſuing. The fight began on Saturday the 14th. of Iune, about 12. of the clocke at noon, and held a terrible ſight foor about half an hour. And its reported, in the perſuit Prince Rupert is taken.
(EEBO-TCP ; phase 2, no. A86038)
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